Effects of additive manufacturing on convective heat transfer in 3D-printed micro/mini-channels and fluid passages with micro/mini structures – The review

Abstract

Additive manufacturing is a novel method of producing three-dimensional products. It allows designers to break boundaries in terms of the complexity of the geometries produced, in many cases reducing the number of parts in the final component and enabling more cost-effective production. Such an advantage of the additive manufacturing process is very attractive, especially for heat transfer designs where cooling efficiency can be boosted by developing complex fluid flow paths, and the design space of possible solutions is extended significantly. As 3D printing advances as a manufacturing method, it is crucial to understand its inherent limitations, especially in developing micro-channel structures. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the literature on heat transfer and flow phenomena in 3D-printed micro/mini-channels and fluid passages with micro/mini structures, with a particular focus on surface roughness. This has an impact on friction factors and, consequently, on pressure drops and, according to the Reynolds analogy, also on heat transfer. It is important to understand how the printing strategy can impact the thermal performance of the components. This review will, therefore, focus on the various heat transfer augmentation features and additive manufacturing factors.